Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/488

470 proceedings at the extra session of November 7th, signed by the same men and published as a circular. At this meeting the plan of the original pronunciamiento was submitted for revision and approval. This document in its original form is not given, and it is consequently impossible to state what changes were introduced. It had been somewhat vaguely worded, and perhaps intentionally so; but Alvarado explained that its informalities were due to the haste and confusion of the campaign, since the intention of the pronunciados, as was well known, was simply to resist the oppressions of the rulers sent from Mexico since the adoption of the new system; and he moved that the plan be drawn up as in the appended note. This organized at cost of immense sacrifices, which unnatural sons trampled on, ignoring them in order to found upon your ruins their own fortune and criminal advancement; and when it seemed that you were already the sure patrimony of the aristocratic tyrant, you boldly waved the banner of the free: "Federation or Death is the destiny of the Californian." Thus have you shouted, and a cry so sweet will be indelibly engraved upon your hearts, in whom (sic) the sacred fire of love for the country is seen to burn incessantly. You have tasted the sweet nectar of liberty; the bitter cup of oppression may not be tendered you with impunity. California is free, and will sever her relations with Mexico until she ceases to be oppressed by the present dominant faction called central government. To accomplish so interesting, so grand an object, it remains only that we, the inhabitants of this soil, united, form a single wish, a single opinion. Let us be united, Californians, and we shall be invincible, if we use all the resources on which we may count. Thus shall we make it clear to the universe that we are firm in our purpose, that we are free and federalists! José Castro, Juan B. Alvarado, Antonio Buelna, José Antonio Noriega. Monterrey, Nov. 6, 1836.' Government Press in charge of citizen Santiago Aguilar. 1 leaf.

Original print in Earliest Printing. Also in Bandini, Doc., MS., 42; Guerra, Doc., MS., i. 151-2; ''Vallejo, Hist. Cal.,'' MS., iii. 195-6; and translation, somewhat less literal than mine, in Hopkins' Translations, 3-4, printed also in the S. Francisco Alta. The Noriega who signs was José Antonio de la Guerra. It was a whim to sign his name Noriega, which he had no right to do. Alvarado, ''Hist. Cal.,'' MS., iii. 169-73, says that two copies of the address were sent to every place to be posted in regular form on the doors of alcaldía and church.